Tobacco-curing rack



(No MoafeL) J. R. BROWN. TOBACCO GURING RAGK.

Patented 001;. 3,1893.

g1/wende@ Jaynes jlirownf t JAMES REDDING BROWN, OF MEIGS, GEORGIA.

\ TOBACCO-CU'RING RACK. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,874, dated October 3, 1893.

Serial No. 445,256. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JAMES REDDING BROWN, a citizen of the lUnited States, residing at Meigs, in the county of Thomas, State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Curing Racks; and- I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved rack for curing tobacco; and has for its object to provide simple and efficient means for supporting a, series of racks in a barn in such a manner that the racks may be disposed the one above the other to economize space and may be provided with separate and independent means for placing each supporting line or strand under proper tension, whereby said line or strand will be prevented from sagging.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a structure or frame showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section about on the line X--X of Fig. l., the lower` portion of the structure or frame being broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the drying rack, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 shows a. modified form of the instrumentalities for supporting and elevating the drying rack.

The structure or frame for supporting aseries of drying racks may be the interior of a barn, or drying room, or similar provision suitable for the storing of tobacco during the process of curing. The essential feature of the structure or frame is a series of vertical posts A which are provided in their opposing sides with suitably constructed guideways a which are designed to receive and guide the rack frames in their vertical movements. In the preferred form of construction these guideways a consist of grooves in the sides on the post A and may be formed in the posts or by strips which are affixed thereto which are suitably disposed to effect the desired result. These posts A are disposed in parallel relation'so as not to change the relative distance between the bars composing the rack frame and also to admit of the endsl of said bars working in said guideways without binding therein or slipping therefrom.

The rack frames are composed of bars B B', lines or strands C for supporting the tobacco and which are adapted to be attached at their ends to the bars B B and provision for obtaining a tension on each individual line or strand C consisting of a fastening D having a threaded shank by means of which it is adj ustably connected with one of the side bars of the rack. The bars B B are held a fixed relative distance apart and guided in their vertical movements by having their ends v inserted in the guideways a of the vertical posts A. The lines or strands O are prefer ably permanently secured at one end to one of the bars of the rack frames and have an eye at the opposite end to engage with the adjustable fastening or 'hook D provided on the opposite bar. Any suitable means are provided for supporting the rack frame, the most common form of support being strips E which extend in a horizontal direction and are attached to the posts A substantially as' shown. These strips are located at the proper elevation to support the rack frames at the required height. The bars B B lying exterior to the strips are supported by the lines or strands C which extend across and rest on said strips.

In some cases it is preferred to have the space between the posts unobstructed so that the rack frame after being loaded with the tobacco to be cured may be raised to the properheight from the ground by means of suitable pulleys and cord. In thislform of construction spring catches F are provided and located on the posts A and are so disposed that a portion of said catches normally projects across the path of the bars composing the rack frame to engage with said bars and support the rack frame at the proper elevation. The pulleys g are located at the top of the structure or frame and the elevating cords G are secured at one end to the bars of the rack frame and cast over said pulleys g and have their free ends extending within convenient reach so as to be grasped when it is desired to raise and lower the rack frame. When tance of the butt of the stem and set straddling said lines or strands. After a rack is filled with the tobacco it is `elevated to theA proper position either by hand or the cords and pulleys, or in any desired manner.

The lines or strands C may be formed ot' suitable material, such as cord `or wires, the latter being preferable because not readily extensible. In providing the eyes atthe ends of the linesLC and securing ,oneend thereof to a side bar of the rack frame by staples, the distance `of the free ends of said lines `from the said sidebar will vary-and to compensate for this variation and `have the lines `extend straight between the frame :bars adjustable fastenings D have `been provided for the said free ends of the lines `C for the purpose of securing them to 'the other side bar of the frame. Inasmuch as the tobacco loosely straddles the lines it is desirable to have the said lines free from sagging, which, if a sag should exist, would in the handlingof the drying frames, cause the tobacco to settle at the lowest point or sag in the line.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1 A tobacco curing rack composed of a seriesof vertical postshaving grooves in their opposing sides close to the edges ofthe said posts `totornn gnideways, strips extending the length of the rack and secured to the posts, and a series of drying racks composed of side bars having their ends inserted `in the said grooves or guideways, and strands secured at their ends to the said side bars and extendingover the said strips to support the drying frames, substantially `as described.

2. Thecombination with (a structure having vertical guidevvays of a rack frame composed of side bars having ,theirendsinserted in said guideways, strands or lines stretched between said side bars fand tensibnidevices for main-taining a proper tension fon said strands ,or lines, substantially as described for the purposeset forth.

In testimony whereof Ifax: my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES REDDING BROWN.' Witnesses:

RoB'r. G. MITCHELL, ARTHUR PATTEN. 

